Arburg at the K 2022: “There is only a Plan A”

• Plan A: Circular economy and technology working hand in hand
• Plan A: More sustainability through resource-efficient use of plastics
• Plan A: Digitalisation is the future of plastics processing

Excitement is mounting in the run-up to the K 2022, the world’s leading trade fair for the plastics industry. As always, Arburg has adopted a clear message for its trade fair appearance in Duesseldorf: “There is only a Plan A”. “Plan A” conveys that the machine manufacturer is committed to making its contribution and presenting solutions for the important global issues of sustainability, the circular economy and carbon reduction. Accordingly, with its trade fair stand A13 in hall 13 and with the arburgGREENworld pavilion in the VDMA Circular Economy Forum, Arburg will showcase its pioneer role in resource conservation. Combined with extensive digitalisation, Arburg is perfectly positioned to provide high-end technology for greater sustainability.

“The issues of sustainability, resource conservation and livelihoods are an increasing concern for people – especially in connection with plastics,” says Juliane Hehl, Managing Partner at Arburg and responsible for Marketing and Business Development. She adds, “One of the key questions is: how can we sustainably combine ecology, economy and social coexistence today and in the future?” Arburg has been focusing on this topic for a long time – not only in terms of its production, but also in terms of its own products. “As a machine manufacturer, we are responsible for consuming as few resources as possible when manufacturing our machines,” explains Juliane Hehl. But it also means that customers can use Arburg machines to implement processes that save on resources and offer solutions for the circular economy. “It’s a complex task as it involves looking at the entire value creation chain,” the Managing Partner sums it up. At the end of the day, the goal is to sustainably reduce the carbon footprint in plastics processing and feed the recyclable plastics material back into the materials cycle.

Arburg has a plan: “Plan A”
“With ‘Plan A’, we want to show visitors of the K 2022: we have understood these contexts and, as a machine manufacturer, we are making our contribution by tackling these issues on both a strategic and an operational level,” says Dr Christoph Schumacher, Director Marketing. “Our message ‘There is only a Plan A’ communicates clearly that there can be no ‘Plan B’ when it comes to resource conservation, the circular economy and carbon reduction – following the motto of the sustainability movement ‘There is no Planet B’.” Of course, “Plan A” also corresponds with the focal points of K 2022, namely the circular economy, digitalisation and climate protection, which have become even more important global challenges since the last trade fair in 2019. “Our trade fair appearance underlines that we have a ’Plan A’ when it comes to the perfect combination of sustainability, efficiency and cutting-edge technology”, emphasises Dr Christoph Schumacher.

Around 2,300 square metres of “Arburg” in Duesseldorf
At K 2022, Arburg will illustrate how highly networked, digitalised manufacturing helps to conserve resources and increase production efficiency. It is all about the synergy between the circular economy and high-tech with the help of targeted digitalisation. The topic’s importance for Arburg can also be expressed in figures: Arburg’s presentation area has increased by a total of more than 800 to around 2,300 square metres: The Arburg stand 13A13 now covers around 1,900 square metres, plus another 400 square metres for the arburgGREENworld pavilion in the VDMA Circular Economy Forum in the inner courtyard of the exhibition grounds.

Sustainability thanks to digitalisation
How exactly can digitalisation deliver sustainability? For example, through targeted sorting and recycling of plastics. Tools include the R-Cycle initiative and marking technologies such as watermarks or QR codes that are applied to products during the manufacturing process. Or equipping the Gestica control system with various digital assistance systems to make it easier for customers to manage the problem of fluctuating material quality of recyclates. Arburg will tackle these issues both at its stand 13A13 and the arburgGREENworld pavilion.

Circular Economy Pavilion: sustainability in theory and practice
The arburgGREENworld pavilion is all about concrete sustainability measures in production and products: in other words, about what Arburg does within its own company to conserve resources and what its products do for customers. “Greenline” plugs from Fischer, one of the market leaders for fastening systems, will be produced on an electric Allrounder 370 A with recyclate package and Multilift robotic system. The give-away is a prime example of a successful circular economy in the field of post industrial recyclate (PIR). The sprue is deposited directly in a mill. It is then returned straight back into the process as regrind and reused. Arburg wants to “rock” the arburgGREENworld pavilion with a young, completely new team at the stand. The team, which includes many trainees, will also be a striking reminder: sustainability is a key component of our future; today’s efforts are essential for future generations!

13A13: Technologies for more sustainability and production efficiency
The main stand 13A13 will showcase corresponding Arburg technologies that enable sustainable, efficient manufacturing. Exhibits will include solutions with a small footprint, process control and networked peripherals, as well as completely new technologies, configurations with compact automation or the series production of mass-produced articles. A total of eight hydraulic, hybrid and electric Allrounders with a clamping force of between 350 and 6,500 kN and two Freeformers for industrial additive manufacturing will be on show at the trade fair stand. All injection moulding machines will be automated with robotic systems, in some cases integrated into complex turnkey systems and connected to the “arburgXworld” customer portal.

Visitors will be able to see for themselves the potentials of the Gestica control system and its assistants, such as the “aXw Control FillAssist”. The Varimos plug-in from Simcon will be shown for the first time, which displays the effects of changes to machine parameters based on AI.

Another real eye-catcher will be the production of a high-quality tool case in Arburg design on a hybrid Allrounder 1120 H with a clamping force of 6,500 kN.

No less than three exhibits are equipped with the Arburg recyclate package: an electric Allrounder 470 A produces PP handles from post-consumer recyclate (PCR), while a hydraulic Allrounder 270 S compact uses glass-fibre-reinforced PPS recyclate to make tweezers. The exhibit also has secure 5G mobile connectivity – a pilot project by Arburg and Telekom.

Another networked, compact turnkey system is based on an Allrounder 375 V with a six-axis robot and Arburg Turnkey Control Module (ATCM) and produces a bicycle tool from recycled PA66/6 (GF50).

A further “smart” exhibit is a hybrid packaging Allrounder 630 H in a cleanroom design that produces around 18,000 transparent PET blood tubes per hour: the injection moulding machine communicates with the mould, hot runner controller, material dryer and automation via the Gestica control system and OPC UA. The “Moldlife Sense” computer system is integrated into the 32x tool provided by Arburg’s partner Hack and enables monitoring across the complete life cycle.

With an electric Allrounder 720 A, Arburg will present an alternative to deepdrawing. Its new size 1300 injection unit enables high injection volume flows thanks to precise AMKmotion servo motors. The exhibit manufactures thin-walled, round IML cups.

An Allrounder More 1600 manufactures Luer lock connectors for medical technology. The application will be the first to show handling with a Yaskawa robot, which can be directly programmed via the Gestica control system.
A definite highlight in terms of mould technology will be the Allrounder Cube 1800 with a 8+8+8-cavity cube mould with new CITI technology of Arburg’s partner Foboha. The three-component cube mould produces a functional component from PP, TPE and POM. A six-axis robot simultaneously fills the mould, cools it and removes the parts.

Arburg family: everything under one roof
Apart from Arburg’s own products, products from two sister companies will also be on show: two 3D printers from innnovatiQ as well as the components from AMKmotion for the Allrounder powertrain. After all, the powertrain is the hallmark of a state-of-the-art injection moulding machine. Thanks to the acquisition of AMKmotion, Arburg now has complete control over the development and production of the entire powertrain, including servo motors and servo inverters – which makes the company unique, at least in Europe.

Arburg prominently represented at the exhibitions
An impressive total of 15 further systems will be represented at stands of various Arburg partner companies, distributed across the entire exhibition. In addition, as in 2019, Arburg will act as a sponsor to ensure that free WLAN access is available to all visitors at the exhibition centre.

Way2K: Industry interviews in the lead-up to the K 2022 trade fair

“Plastics have a waste and digitalisation problem, not an image problem”

Interview with Christian Schiller, founder and CEO of cirplus GmbH

Mr. Schiller, you have been operating a trading platform for plastic waste and recyclates since March 2020. Where do you get them from?
From suppliers and customers from all over the world, which now stands at over 1,300 companies from more than 100 countries. However, we are currently seeing a considerable surplus in demand for high-quality plastic recyclates.

While this initially sounds good for the recycling industry, it also mercilessly highlights the deficits within the market. For many carbons, no recycling process exists that is industrially available, let alone profitable; too much waste continues to be incinerated or landfilled. The human race is managing to waste an incredible amount of valuable resources, but at cirplus, we are working with the means of digitalisation to change this!

Why is there so little quality recyclate?
We do not have a global shortage of plastic waste; we do however have a shortage of waste that can be recycled well. I would like to highlight three aspects here: underdeveloped recycling technologies, non-transparent and under-digitalised waste and recycling flows, and poor product design. Let’s start with recycling technologies: these can and must catch up on a broad front – and I’m not just talking about chemical recycling in this regard, but especially mechanical recycling, as this is where there is still the most room for improvement, while at the same time the eco-balance is consistently positive compared to the use of virgin materials.

The markets for waste and recyclate must become more transparent and digital. How else can reliable supply chains be established globally if major uncertainties about qualities and quantities cannot be eliminated? In Europe alone, there is no traceability for over 20 million tonnes of waste generated annually. Transparency, traceability and digital trade transactions are the top priorities.

Ecologically and economically sensible recycling stands and falls with product design. If the processors and brands do not manage to manufacture products that can be recycled in a high-quality manner after their utilisation phase, then we will struggle with quality problems for quite some time. All this shows that we don’t have an image problem with plastics, but a waste and digitalisation problem.

Where else do you envisage improvements?
We should talk about standards. The recyclate qualities the market actually needs must be registered accurately. Against this background, we at cirplus have initiated and actively promoted the standardisation of plastic recyclates for higher-value applications and digital trade. The resulting standard, DIN SPEC 91446, was launched in November last year as the world’s first standard for high-quality plastics recycling beyond PET.

Will the market gain momentum through standards?
Definitely. DIN SPEC 91446 has already put a lot in motion within the market. Well-known product manufacturers have started to classify their purchasing requirements according to DIN SPEC. Testing laboratories offer certification according to DIN SPEC, and recyclers are increasingly addressing the required specifications. Using cirplus, requirements and offers are now already automatically classified on the basis of DIN SPEC – and that’s just the beginning.

Could you describe the new standard?
DIN SPEC 91446 is a standard that classifies the degree of transparency of available recyclate data into so-called data quality levels (DQL). This standard is an important step on the way to making recyclates a globally reliable commodity. We support this by digitally aggregating quantities and qualities via cirplus, creating (price) comparability, reducing transaction costs and introducing said quality levels. This is a prerequisite for further AI applications in the future, such as algorithms that can predict prices, quantities and qualities on the basis of the data mapped at cirplus.

Now a standard has been set but is the required quality actually available on your platform?
We are already aware of interesting developments in PET and HDPE, also in some post-industrial recyclates, and in certain volumes outside Europe. It’s true that certain quality goods cannot currently be sourced either online or offline. Food-grade PE or PP recyclate for example is simply not available on the market, with very few exceptions.

However, there are ambitious targets for recyclate use on the part of customers, ranging from consumer goods via household goods to car manufacturers and the construction industry. The cosmetics packaging industry in Europe alone will need at least 1 million tonnes of post-consumer recyclate annually from 2025. This requires an enormous increase in capacity, as well as the development of new waste streams as feedstock for recycling. To this end, we are implementing further developments at cirplus to make the sustainable procurement of recyclates for high-value applications simple, transparent, cost-efficient and reliable. However, the sluggish mechanisms of the existing system and conflicting interests along the value chain are slowing down the transformation of the plastics industry.

Do we need more political regulation to kick-start the market?
Yes, more regulation is needed to establish a truly circular plastics economy. Personally, I am free-market oriented, but the market clearly cannot remedy the deficits on its own. A figure of less than 10 percent PCR recyclate share of the total amount of plastics processed in Germany testifies to a systemic failure in the recycling of plastics, and this more than 30 years after the introduction of extended producer responsibility.

The fact remains that wherever the price of virgin material is lower than that of recycled material, almost exclusively virgin material is bought, and the waste has no value. Our digitalisation approach can help enormously here. It can reduce up to 25 percent of the transaction costs in the production and use of plastic recyclates. The state is now also intervening. The most recent example is Great Britain. Since 1 April 2022, a penalty tax has been levied on packaging with a recycled content of less than 30 per cent. Other European countries will follow suit, and the European Commission is working on a product-specific recycled content quota. As a result, users are increasingly starting to think about their product design. This is a good dynamic, but one that could be nipped in the bud by chemical recycling.

Why is that?
I notice an uncertainty on the part of processors and brands. At almost every event organised by the plastics industry, they hear that mechanical recycling has reached its limits and they perceive that the chemical industry is driving forward chemical recycling with billions of euros of investment in order to be able to recover even the carbons that are still difficult to recycle today.

They now quite rightly wonder whether their own efforts to design for recycling make any sense at all if petrochemicals could actually recycle complex composites in the future. In such a scenario, processors and brand owners would not have to change anything about their products, since chemical recycling would allow semi-new products to be used that would still meet the recyclate quotas via the mass balance approach. In addition, processors do not have to fear increased purchasing costs due to the energy-intensive recycling process if brand owners are actually obliged by legal quotas or penalty taxes to use chemical recyclates in certain quantities. This is one of the reasons why plastics manufacturers are campaigning for the minimum quota for recyclate use at European level!

INEOS invests in state-of-the-art technology to design recyclable flexible packaging film to prevent one million tonnes of waste going to landfill each year

• INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe announces multi-million Euro investment in state-of- the-art multilayer, blown line technology with Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) supplied by Hosokawa Alpine, a pioneer in MDO technology
• The business will bring its polymer expertise to develop, design and produce new, recyclable flexible packaging films in partnership with converters, brands and retailers
• The investment creates the potential to prevent approximately one million tons of waste per year from being sent to landfill or incineration

INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe has announced today a multi-million Euro investment in state-of-the-art technology that will enable it to work with converters, brands and retailers to develop simpler, more recyclable flexible packaging film. The investment could help to prevent around one million tonnes of waste from being sent to landfill each year.

Using new multilayer, blown line technology with Machine Direction Orientation (MDO), INEOS and partners will work together to develop, design and produce polyethylene and polypropylene-based flexible packaging film using fewer polymers, increasing the recyclability of the product.

Flexible packaging films are a low carbon solution for transporting food and other goods; and they increase food shelf life, helping consumers to manage household bills. However today’s multi-material products combine polymers from different chemical families, making them difficult to recycle. Reducing the number of polymers used to produce packaging film will make packaging that is designed to be recycled.

INEOS is the only raw material supplier to have invested in an inline MDO-multilayer line from Hosokawa Alpine, a pioneer in MDO technology, which heats and stretches polymer films to improve their physical and barrier properties, enabling them to be used in different product applications.

The new line will be installed in INEOS’ R&D labs in Brussels, Belgium, in 2023, where INEOS will develop new, mono-material flexible film packaging products. INEOS will leverage this capability and its expertise in resin design to work alongside partners on new generations of resins specially engineered for their flexible packaging products.

Rob Ingram, Chief Executive, INEOS O&P Europe North, said: “This investment is further evidence of our commitment to taking action across the value chain to create a more sustainable future. Flexible packaging films keep our food fresh and safe to eat, but we recognise and share people’s concerns about plastic waste.”

“I’m excited about the prospect of working closely with our partners to use this world-leading technology to develop new capabilities and a more recyclable solution for this important product.”

Other examples of concrete action being taken across the value chain include:

• Building Project One, the most environmentally sustainable cracker in Europe and largest investment in the European chemical sector in a generation
• Conducting a feasibility study into the construction of a 100-megawatt water electrolysis plant for producing green hydrogen at our site in Cologne, which could cut CO2 by more than 100,000 tonnes per year
• The Recycl-IN polymer range, which compounds post-consumer recycled plastic with new highly engineered virgin polymers to meet the demand for recycled products that meet high performance specifications
• Recycling investments that will drive up recycling levels and produce food-grade certified recycled content

This is just a small sample of the action being taken across the global INEOS business to deliver net zero emissions and develop a circular economy in which valuable materials stay in use. Go to https://www.ineos.com/sustainability/ for more.

1) Source: Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging, 2016. CEFLEX is a collaboration of over 180 European companies, associations and organizations representing the flexible packaging value chain

Dow seals value chain partnership with Want-Want Group to drive zero-solvent emissions and explore opportunities to adopt more recyclable flexible packaging

Its innovative adhesives solutions support Want-Want Group’s sustainability goals, bringing more environmentally-friendly packaging choices to consumers

Dow (NYSE: DOW), a global materials science company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s leading food and beverage group, Want-Want, to drive zero-solvent emissions and develop a circular economy for flexible packaging. This agreement aims to deepen value-chain partner collaborations with customized adhesives solutions to address the needs of the industry for more sustainable packaging choices.

Solvent emissions are a source of pollution and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Enabled by Dow’s water-based and solventless adhesives technologies, Want-Want is dedicated to using environmentally-friendly laminating adhesives for all its flexible packaging while exploring opportunities to adopt recyclable packaging across more products under its portfolio.

“Investing in sustainability is an ongoing process; this significant step with Want-Want can help both parties optimize our sustainability roadmaps in the long run,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “We will continue to drive innovative solutions and support more partners in achieving their sustainability goals.”

“Adhesives is an important sector that can help reduce emissions and enable a circular economy. Not only are we advancing sustainable packaging on a larger scale, but we are also exploring benefits such as efficiency optimization and energy savings, supporting customers in reducing carbon footprint during production and transportation processes,” said Jayne Wong, global adhesives business director, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics.

The signing of the MoU agreement aligns with Dow’s sustainability goals for carbon neutrality by 2050, as well as supports Want-Want’s sustainability goals to achieve carbon neutrality and adopt recyclable packaging for all products.

“In order to tackle climate change and create long-term value, we have an important part to play as one of China’s largest food and beverage companies to establish an environmentally-friendly value chain – that inspires and encourages our consumers to make positive changes for the planet,” said Yongmei Cao, general manager of operations, Want-Want Group. “Solving sustainability challenges is not a one-man nor a one-organization job, but also falls on the shoulders of all stakeholders. Not only are we thrilled to advance further in this journey with Dow, but we are also encouraged by the reality that we can offer our customers’ favorite products that are enveloped by Dow’s sustainable packaging innovation.”

Plastics Industry Association Names Polis New Vice President of Communications

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Strategos Polis has accepted the position of Vice President of Communications, effective immediately.

As a member of the Senior team, Stephanie will lead all communication efforts on behalf of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly one million workers in the $395 billion U.S. plastics industry.

Polis will lead the PLASTICS brand strategy, champion the priorities of the PLASTICS government relations team to enhance their direct lobbying and coalition efforts and serve as a strategic advisor to PLASTICS leadership on marketing, digital messaging and public affairs.

“We must be a strong voice for the plastics industry, so I am thrilled to have Stephanie join our team. Her sophisticated approach to public affairs and communications as well as over two decades of executive communication, government relations and marketing experience will be a huge asset for the plastics industry,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS. “Stephanie’s seasoned institutional knowledge of Washington, impeccable abilities as a collaborative interconnector and enthusiasm for the great work being done by the people in our industry will help us to better tell the plastics story.”

Before joining the association, Stephanie was Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) where she worked to enhance the communications, public affairs and marketing on behalf of APCIA’s membership, representing approximately 70% of the property casualty insurance industry. Polis has worked on Capitol Hill on the House Budget Committee professional staff under then-Chairman Jim Nussle (IA), served as a Presidential Appointee in the role of Public Liaison to the Honorable Secretary Elaine L. Chao at the United States Department of Labor, and as the Director of Government Relations at the United States Chamber of Commerce. In addition to having served on executive teams at the state and federal levels of government, she has worked on the political, fundraising and grassroots teams for several successful state, Congressional and Presidential campaigns.

“I am honored to be given this opportunity to lead communication efforts on behalf of the Plastics Industry Association, representing America’s eighth largest industry,” Polis shared. “The plastics industry is committed to sustainability like no other, provides nearly a million people in the United States with a place in which they are proud to be a team member and is firmly dedicated to investments in innovative technology. It will be an honor and a privilege to serve as a positive voice for the people of the plastics industry and promote the growth of PLASTICS under Matt Seaholm’s leadership.”

Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability. To learn more about PLASTICS educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, networking opportunities and policy advocacy, and the largest plastic trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show, visit plasticsindustry.org or go to This Is PLASTICS.

Lindner at K: Shredding – Washing – Sorting. Efficient all-in-one plastics recycling solutions

As a pioneer in the recycling industry, Lindner draws on a wealth of experience in transforming waste into valuable materials and stands for quality, experience and product innovations. At K 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany, Lindner will be presenting ground-breaking all-in-one solutions for the efficient plastics recycling of tomorrow in Hall 9, at Booth B17 & B19. Along with a wide range of product innovations, a special highlight is a new system solution to directly process post-consumer rigid plastics in an injection moulding process.

The circular economy and the growing importance of plastics recycling under the umbrella of climate protection are key topics at October’s K in Düsseldorf. Undoubtedly, there has been an upswing in plastics recycling for several years. The challenges facing the industry, however, continue to be multifaceted and complex: demand on recyclate quality is increasing as is the call for higher throughputs with minimal energy consumption and maintenance. The driving force behind this is clear: Plastic needs to be retained in the cycle for as long as possible and the aim is also to use recycled plastic material increasingly in the food sector. The key to recycling success lies in the perfect coordination of the upstream processes of shredding, washing and sorting. As one of a few recycling specialists, Lindner offers all-in-one solutions to effectively optimise these steps while processing rigid plastics, film and PET.

Optimal performance from the outset
Shredding waste plastic is right at the start of the plastics recycling process – an area in which Lindner can apply its decades of experience in the processing of domestic, commercial and industrial waste to obtain standard throughputs of 40 t/h and more. At the K 2022, Lindner will be presenting the upgraded Jupiter BW series for the first time. This product innovation is focused on optimising the handling of plastic films for the downstream NIR sorting process. In addition to a constant volume flow and homogeneous larger particles, this also includes optimising the particle size for NIR sorting. ‘With a particle size of DIN A4 to A3, we have been able to improve the performance of the NIR systems with our customer,’ says Stefan Scheiflinger- Ehrenwerth, Head of Product Management at Lindner. ‘Every shredding process generates a certain proportion of fines along with the targeted ideal particle size. With the new, resource-efficient Jupiter BW setup we have managed to reduce the proportion of fines generated by 50%, which manufacturers of NIR sorting equipment have confirmed.’ As a result, the newly developed cutting system of the Jupiter BW series is able to significantly increase the added value along the chain.

Focus on quality and efficiency
Besides shredding and sorting, the washing process is also a key quality criterion for producing high-quality regranulate. Not an easy challenge if you consider that plastics are increasingly extracted from waste streams, which is how heavily contaminated input materials are gradually finding their way into plastics recycling. ‘We are only too familiar with the problem. But we also have the right solutions,’ says Harald Hoffmann, Managing Director of Lindner Washtech, Lindner’s subsidiary specialising in plastics recycling. ‘Our patented Rafter pre-wash has been tailored to the new requirements. By using a larger rotor, we can lengthen the dwell times, which obviously has a positive effect on the depth of cleaning. We have also been able to sustainably improve the throughput rate, 3 t/h for films and 5 t/h for rigid plastics – and we will be showcasing this product innovation at the K trade fair for the first time,’ adds Harald Hoffmann. Lindner will also be highlighting another product innovation, this time in thermal drying: ‘At the K we will also be introducing EcoDry, our new thermal dryer. Clever use of heat exchangers and a sustainable insulation of the material-conveying components means this dryer achieves energy savings of up to 30 %. And the high degree of drying also ensures the flakes are better prepared for subsequent processes.’

Live outdoor demonstration – homogenous flakes directly injection moulded
As in 2019, Lindner is in the outside area of the K, and this year the company will be exhibiting as part of the VDMA Circular Economy Forum. Showcasing its products together with several other companies along the entire value chain will give visitors a taste of the circular economy, promoting this important topic. As an example of an entire washing plant, Lindner will be presenting a shredding, washing and drying unit with integrated water treatment and will be recycling plastics live several times a day.
Shredding is performed by a model from the new Micromat HP series – a machine equipped with new convenient functions that offer impressively high throughout performance and ease of maintenance. Its flexible, bolted knives system and its enhanced drive make the new Micromat HP series an energy-efficient all-rounder in plastics recycling, and can be used to shred films and rigid plastics. A particular highlight and novelty among the live demonstrations will be seeing how rigid plastics pass through Lindner’s recycling machine, and – without prior extrusion – directly entering an injection moulding process. For the first time, clean and homogenous flakes will be moulded directly into a new product.

2021 – a record year for the WITTMANN Group

The WITTMANN Group realized € 376 million in sales, the third highest figure in its corporate history. The order intake figure even reached an all-time high. In spite of the supply chain problems preventing an even higher sales figure, the WITTMANN Group is looking ahead with optimism.

This optimism is also reflected in the Group’s continuing investment activities.

At WITTMANN BATTENFELD in Kottingbrunn, the construction of a new hall with more than 3,000 m² floor space was started in 2021, to house a fully automatic pallet shelf warehouse with 1,700 storage locations, an assembly area for large and vertical machines, as well as a new electrical workshop. Most of the construction work has now been completed. The assembly hall will go into operation at the end of July, the pallet shelf warehouse and the electrical workshop will be operating at full capacity by September. On the roof of the new hall, a solar power system is being installed, consisting of 1,604 panels with a total capacity of 651.8 MWh per annum.

Moreover, the extension of the R&D facility of WITTMANN Technology GmbH, located at Percostrasse in Vienna, was completed this April. Most of the new offices for 40 software and hardware developers are already occupied.

WITTMANN BATTENFELD Deutschland GmbH is investing in both of its technical labs located at Meinerzhagen and Nuremberg. In Meinerzhagen, the existing technical lab is being remodeled and extended, to offer customers sufficient space for factory acceptance tests from autumn this year. The technical lab located in Nuremberg is being completely modernized.

Another major investment project is under way in the USA. In May 2022, the last extension stage for Plant 1 of WITTMANN USA Inc. in Torrington, CT has been commissioned. This will be an extension by 1,000 m² of the area for automation systems and complete injection molding cells, combined with further structural alterations, such as a solar power system consisting of 539 panels with a total annual capacity of 322.9 MWh. Further extensions are also planned for the neighboring Plant 2.

The Polish WITTMANN subsidiary, WITTMANN BATTENFELD Polska Sp. z o.o., has purchased a 16,400 square meter piece of land in Krze Duże, close to its current location. Planning for the construction of a new building for sales, service and training facilities is in full swing. The start of construction is scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2023. Completion is expected before the end of 2023.

For Michael Wittmann, CEO of the WITTMANN Group, the ongoing investments are an important step to secure continuing corporate success for the years to come.

Future sales and service building of WITTMANN BATTENFELD Polska Sp. z o. o.

New pallet shelf warehouse at WITTMANN BATTENFELD in Kottingbrunn

Bringing a varied selection of TPE sustainability solutions to K 2022

The competence leader KRAIBURG TPE will present itself with a broad portfolio covering every aspect of sustainability at the upcoming K 2022 trade fair held from October 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf. Traditionally located at “Rubber Street”, the manufacturer provides issues and solutions involving thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) as well as an extended service portfolio.

Preparations for K 2022 trade fair are in full swing, since it’s only a few weeks before Messe Düsseldorf will open its doors for the world of plastics. “The packing lists are completed, and a top priority is clearly emerging. We’ll bring a varied selection of sustainability issues involving material solutions as well as services that accompany the issue and with which we support our customers,” says Oliver Zintner, CEO of KRAIBURG TPE. “Our formula for success is based on providing high-quality compounds and reliable, results oriented services. Our trade-fair appearance will reflect this approach as well. We are incorporating our decades-long experience in new, sustainable solutions, from which everyone will benefit. I’m sure this mixture of services will be appreciated,” Zintner sums up the appearance at the K fair.

Some examples of the K2022 highlights:

Proof of Recyclability: Institute cyclos-HTP, an independent company specialized in assessment and certification, has successfully tested and certified the compatibility of selected TPS materials in the recycling stream for high density polyethylenes (HDPEs) and polypropylenes (PPs) on behalf of KRAIBURG TPE. It has been assumed so far that TPS is not recyclable in the recycling stream: Compatibility in the PP and HDPE stream with products from KRAIBURG TPE has been demonstrated and certified.

RC/UV: With a proportion of postindustrial recycled materials ranging from a minimum of 20% to a maximum of 40%, the series meets the high requirements for OEMs’ automotive exteriors such as weathering resistance and a high surface quality. These product solutions enable suppliers to replace current components with identical components made of recycled materials-based TPE and thus to make a contribution to the circular plastics economy.

Interior PIR TPE: The new product solution contributes to meeting recycling quotas. With a proportion of recycled material of up to 38%, interior PIR TPE provides the automotive market with a reliable and sustainable alternative to standard solutions. The postindustrial recycled plastics used are waste materials derived from other company’s manufacturing of plastic products. KRAIBURG TPE uses them to produce product solutions for sustainable automotive interior applications, among other uses.

Universal PCR TPE: is tailored to meet the requirements for many consumer and industry applications and allows a portion of up to 41% postconsumer recyclate. Compounds are available in natural color as well as in a gray color characteristic for recycled plastics, which can be dyed in many different colors as needed. Another feature worth emphasizing are the mechanics, which are in no way inferior to that of standard solutions.

Visitors to K 2022 can look forward to expert discussions about issues involving the TPE product and service portfolio, which comprises the medical, industrial, automotive and consumer sectors. Current innovations in the field of compounds include thermally conductive TPEs and high resistance TPEs for cosmetics as well as the provision of the carbon footprint (PCF) of compounds. “We are looking forward to meeting customers, prospects and partners and sharing information and ideas face-to-face. Our product range has increased significantly, and I think there is a lot for us to talk about,” says Oliver Zintner.

KRAIBURG TPE brings a varied selection of TPE sustainability solutions to Düsseldorf on the occasion of K 2022.

Archroma At Lacs 2022 With Emulsions For Enhanced Sustainability, Performance And Protection

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, will be exhibiting at the Latin American Coatings Show (LACS) 2022, which will take place in Mexico City from 26 to 28 July 2022.

Archroma will be at Booth 572-573.

The company will be showcasing innovations and solutions aimed to help manufacturers with optimized sustainability, productivity and value creation in their markets.

The company’s specialist team will be showcasing Archroma’s portfolio of Mowilith® and Mowicoll emulsions for applications such as coatings, sealants, and adhesives, interior and exterior paints, roof coatings.

The Archroma Mowilith emulsions are ideally suited to create more value and sustainability for industries such as construction, home decoration, paper and textile. Literally thousands of satisfied customers have witnessed the outstanding success of Mowilith emulsions since its first patent was obtained in 1912.

The company continues to innovate and add new products in the Mowilith range.

At the show, Archroma will present for the very first time two new emulsions specifically designed for graphic inks: Mowilith LDM 625 T and Mowilith LDM 648 T.

The products have been specifically developed andare produced in Mexico to provide both excellent performance and local availability in a sector where reliable quality and speed-to-market are critical.

The solutions and innovations presented by Archroma have all been developed in line with the principles of “The Archroma Way to a Sustainable World: Safe, efficient, enhanced, it’s our nature”.

In particular, Archroma offers emulsions for APEO-free*, formaldehyde-free*, and phthalate-free* options to manufacturers and brands who are committed to develop products and articles that are safer for the workers, end-users, consumers, and the planet.

As a global partner, Archroma operates with world-class standards and reliability, whilst at the same time serving local markets and customers with local offices and production facilities.

In Mexico, Archroma has a strong presence with a local expert team, offices in Mexico City and a plant in Santa Clara offering production facilities, as well as R&D, logistics and technical services.

Visitors at the booth will also have the opportunity to discover The Safe Edge, an online platform launched by Archroma in September 2021 and allowing for instant access to product related regulatory & compliance certificates and information.

Jennifer Uribe, Head of Archroma Mexico, comments: “Our customers are facing so many market changes in the post-pandemic context, from supply chain challenges to regulatory evolution to public expectations in terms of safety and ecology. Archroma experts will be available to visitors at LACS 2022 to assist them in the transition to this new world, and to help them develop products that are safe, efficient and enhanced. Because it’s our nature.”